I am so happy that I started my day reading this. So beautiful and moving and made me think about how living one's values can take many forms, both large and small, public and private. Thank you.
Yes, and I'm even a hospice volunteer and trained as a death doula. But that's humans. Isn't that odd? I can pretty much handle a recently-dead human (couldn't look at my mom in her casket a day after her death, didn't know what I'd find and ... just did not want).
But animals are different. When I see dead animals on the road - my kids know this - if I'm driving, I put my hand out to cover the part of the road where they are laying. I avert my gaze if I can't block the sight. There was a dead dear on the way to my sister's house and I had to take a different (walking) route till they picked it up.
It's possible that I would click if my loins were properly girded - your devoted creations are beautiful - but to see a dead cat out of nowhere throws me into a state of misery. I couldn't even handle my own beloved Charlie, my husband had to put him in a box so I could drive to the emergency vet and ask them if he was really, REALLY dead. (Lol. Hoo boy.)
I truly get it and I'm so sorry. No judgment whatsoever. I have actually started to issue trigger warnings before posting these animals -- but in this case, I just thought that since I opened with several paragraphs about the ritual, that was a warning in and of itself. But obviously it wasn't enough of one. I do get it and I will adjust accordingly.
I love this, Elissa! I feel like you are a kindred soul.
The honor you are giving to these beautiful animals brought me to tears. They mattered and your adorning them with such love and beauty...I'm sure their souls are loving you for your kindness., I am in awe. I also love that you've framed it in terms of behaving like a Jew. That whole viewpoint is spot on. I feel as though that whole poem was written just for you.
Btw, your pictures are lovely. Not violent at all. I'm guessing Amy may have lost a beloved cat who came to it's end through a violent encounter with a car. It's hard to lose a pet that way (one of our dogs was hit by a car, and it still stings 34 tears later).
I am so incredibly grateful for your beautiful words and your material support. Thank you so much -- it means everything to me. I'm so glad you're here!
No, no, please don't feel that way. I'm just wondering what it is about the photos. I'm not showing anything violent (I wouldn't do that!). But every living thing dies at some point, and surely you see dead animals on the road yourself?
arg Elissa I beg of you, warn me before posting or presenting a photo of a dead animal, especially a cat! Surely there's a way to mark it NSFW so that it's blurred until I click it, like on Reddit? Arg arg sorry but this is beyond my capacity most days. :(
This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I love you, sister.
Very beautiful, Elissa.
I love this so much! Thank you
That is quite a coincidence! The only dead opossum I’ve ever come across was actually . . . playing possum.
OMG, I'm crying. Wow.
I am so happy that I started my day reading this. So beautiful and moving and made me think about how living one's values can take many forms, both large and small, public and private. Thank you.
Just WOW
One of my favorite poems.
Yes, and I'm even a hospice volunteer and trained as a death doula. But that's humans. Isn't that odd? I can pretty much handle a recently-dead human (couldn't look at my mom in her casket a day after her death, didn't know what I'd find and ... just did not want).
But animals are different. When I see dead animals on the road - my kids know this - if I'm driving, I put my hand out to cover the part of the road where they are laying. I avert my gaze if I can't block the sight. There was a dead dear on the way to my sister's house and I had to take a different (walking) route till they picked it up.
It's possible that I would click if my loins were properly girded - your devoted creations are beautiful - but to see a dead cat out of nowhere throws me into a state of misery. I couldn't even handle my own beloved Charlie, my husband had to put him in a box so I could drive to the emergency vet and ask them if he was really, REALLY dead. (Lol. Hoo boy.)
Yes, I know this is odd.
I truly get it and I'm so sorry. No judgment whatsoever. I have actually started to issue trigger warnings before posting these animals -- but in this case, I just thought that since I opened with several paragraphs about the ritual, that was a warning in and of itself. But obviously it wasn't enough of one. I do get it and I will adjust accordingly.
I love this, Elissa! I feel like you are a kindred soul.
The honor you are giving to these beautiful animals brought me to tears. They mattered and your adorning them with such love and beauty...I'm sure their souls are loving you for your kindness., I am in awe. I also love that you've framed it in terms of behaving like a Jew. That whole viewpoint is spot on. I feel as though that whole poem was written just for you.
Btw, your pictures are lovely. Not violent at all. I'm guessing Amy may have lost a beloved cat who came to it's end through a violent encounter with a car. It's hard to lose a pet that way (one of our dogs was hit by a car, and it still stings 34 tears later).
I am so incredibly grateful for your beautiful words and your material support. Thank you so much -- it means everything to me. I'm so glad you're here!
I thought to myself, "Don't scroll. Do not. Amy STOP SCROLLING AUGH CAT!" My fingers are perverse. (Well, we knew that.) I appreciate you.
To me, behaving like a Jew is not only caring about other creatures, but other peoples. The emphasis on starvation in Gaza got me researching world-wide hunger and it's horrifying. Mostly in countries with people of color. 350 million people. As a Jew, I want to save their lives as well. See this article and how you can help: https://www.wfpusa.org/articles/global-food-crisis-10-countries-suffering-the-most-from-hunger/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3AVVrd4dCwmUgr2MpzYlMteMhzMjvVK8V6K2QemY9fNYkBKyveOdrTAlc_aem_AQSU2l9BI07kqS-UklFFAdQ3wi89dSpu82iyGMKq9kJc7Bv6jEtp6pVAHKpDzb9Ui1aTThXTHUg4tCTG0dLdcX7F
I know I'm a giant fat testicle about this.
No, no, please don't feel that way. I'm just wondering what it is about the photos. I'm not showing anything violent (I wouldn't do that!). But every living thing dies at some point, and surely you see dead animals on the road yourself?
arg Elissa I beg of you, warn me before posting or presenting a photo of a dead animal, especially a cat! Surely there's a way to mark it NSFW so that it's blurred until I click it, like on Reddit? Arg arg sorry but this is beyond my capacity most days. :(
Oh, honey. Okay.